Pastor beaten and set on fire in Pakistan
by Staff
January 4, 2011
(christiansunite.com) - A Christian man was recently beaten and set on fire by six young Muslims in Punjab province, Pakistan. On November 22, Pastor Wilson Augustine, 26, went door-to-door to several homes in his neighbourhood, located on the outskirts of the city of Saraghoda, and proclaimed Christ. He was in Village 96-NB when six Muslim brothers saw one of the pamphlets he was distributing and claimed that the description of the resurrection of Jesus was derogatory to Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. The men angrily ordered Pastor Augustine to leave the village and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not stop preaching in the village.
Pastor Augustine complied and left. However, he continued to evangelize in other villages, preached in a small church, and then, at approximately 10 p.m., set out for his home. When he reached the main bus stop at the highway, riders on three motorcycles began to flash their headlight beams into his eyes and rev their engines. Pastor Augustine heard and recognized the voices of the six Muslim men who had threatened him.
They attacked him, beating him with clubs and belts. The Muslim brothers also threw a cold liquid on him, lit a matchbox and set his body on fire. They then dragged him into some nearby shrubs, where he lost consciousness. The next morning, local Christians found Pastor Augustine lying on the ground, with his clothes torn and covered in dried blood.
They took him to a hospital where he was treated in the burn unit. After four days, he was released, but was still recovering at last report.
Pastor Augustine's father immediately reported the assault to the local police station. The registrar was reluctant to file a case against the attackers, whose father was a wealthy and powerful landowner. A report was only filed after the registrar was pressured by local church leaders and a politician. In this report, the police refused to name the six men, claiming that Pastor Augustine could have mistaken their identity due to the darkness of the night.
Pray for continued healing for Pastor Augustine. Pray that the peace of God will keep him firm in his faith. Pray that the men who so cruelly attacked him will repent and turn to Christ. Pray that believers in Pakistan will continue to be bold in sharing the gospel, even amid violent opposition.
To learn more about costly faith of Christians in Pakistan, go to www.persecution.net/pakistan.htm.
